Irrigation system



Jan. 2, 1968 R. J, PURTELL v 3,361,360

IRRIGATION SYSTEM Fed DeC. 7. 1965 5 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR RUFus LJ.PURTELL Jan. 2, 1968 R. J. PURTELL IRRIGATION SYSTBM Fi1ed Dec 3SheetSSheet 5 72 INVENTOR RUFUS Lj PURTE L United States Patent 3,3G1,3IRRIGATION SYSTEM Rufus I. funen, BTownIield, Tex aS nor fo The J. B.1nighf co., I11c., Bfownfe1d, TeX., a cofpofaffoE of Toxas ed Doo. 7,19os, Sef. No. s12,o13 9 c13i1nS. (cL 239212) ABSTRACT o THB DISCLoSURBThis app1icafion is a continuation-in-paff of lIly pfiof applicafionsideI1tifiod aS= Patent No. 3,24S,9S, ApTil 12, 1966, Ser. No. 338,768,filed IannaTy Z0, 1964; Pat ent IIo- 3,24S 608, zpT 12, 1966, Sof. NoZ64,S07 fiIed Mafch 1Z, 1963.

This invention Telates to agricl1IfuTal sprildeT SySfemS and n1oTeparticularly to lIleans fof n1oving an elevated spTinklef ppe ffon1 onelocation to anothef.

ThiS applicatioI1 1effainS to thaf )afticulaf ty e of SpfinkleI SyStef1fo1 agficUltnfal pU1 oSes WheTein the spri1k1e1 pipe iS SuppoIfed at anfinleS elevated above the gound by a pInfaIity of vehicleS. Tho genefalSequence of opefation iS that the vehicles ae stationaTy While tho watefis being sup lied to the pipe. AfteT one area of the field haS beenvvateTed, the vatef 11ow iS diScontinued to the sprinkleT )i1e, thespfinkler ipe dTained and diSco I1eofed fTon1 its sollrce of vvatefSUpPly, all of the vehicles Inove the pipe tTanSveTSely to a ne/)oSition, the S )IfJ1kler pipe again connected fo itS SouTce of vvaterSUpply, and the vvate1 Under pfeSSUe again supp1ied to the spIinklerpipe to vvatef a neW afea (the dry area of the 1ield adjacent to thatWhich haS i[1St been WateTed) It iS often deSifable to gUide of Steefthe vVheelS of each vehicle at a S1ight angle to the genefal tfanSverSenloveolent to acconnodate fof Sloping land of to accon1 nlodate fofendvviSo n1oven1ent fof vvhatever CalISe. (}ne additional cauSe ofondWiSe Inovenlenf lTlight be fUTTows vvhich are angled to the diTectionof InoveInent.

AI1 obiect of this invention iS to provide an agficUlfUTal ifrigationsyStem Which may be moved by ifs o I1 powef i11a plurality of diffe1-onfdiTections Another obiect of thiS invenfion is to pTovide an agric111t11fal iffigafion SySfen1 vhich nlay be tovVed endvviSe.

Furthef obiects aTe to achieve the above vvfth a device that iS Sturdy,coInpact, dufable, Sin1 le, vefSatile, lght vveight, and Teliable, yetiI1expensive and easy to lnanI1- factufe and opefafe.

The specic natuTe of the i11ve1tion, aS Well aS other objectS, I1SeS andadvantageS thefeof, vvilI clearly appeaf ffon1 fhe foIlovvi1g descTiptonand the accon1panying dravving, the di1ferent vievvs of vvhich aTe notto the Sanle scale in Which:

FIG. 1 is a plan vieW sonlevvhat schenlatic in nature shovvi11g aportion of an iTTigation SySteo1 accofding to thiS invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan vievv of one vehicle of the SySten1.

FIG. 3 is a Side elevational view of one vehicle of the SyStefn.

FI(}. 4 iS a detail of bracket constfuction, taken on line 44 of FIG. 3'

FIG. S is a bofton1 viow vifh parts bfoken away fo1 clafity FIG. 6 is anenlafged paTtia1 vfevv Shovving the eXten Sible shaft.

FI(}. 7 is an exploded vieW of oI1e of the exib1e ioiI1ts.

Refef1ing fo FIG. 1 ipe 10 iS Suppofted by a plu- Tality of vehicleS 12.The pipe 10 is Supplied With Water under pTeSSUTe ffon1 supply pipe 14The pipe 1@ has u idly connected theTefo a p1Uality of spfinklefS 16foI, S Tink1ing vvater upon the land to be iffigafed. one of thevehicleS 12 has n1ounted theTeon povveT unit 18 (in the fo of anintefnal coInbuStion engne) vvhich iS dfiviog ly connected to line Shaft2. Line Shaft 2@ extendS along the pipe and is fouTnalled to each of thevehicleS 12- Iaso1Uch aS powef I1nifs in the fofIT1 of intefnal con1buStion engines afe vve11 known, fhe detailS of conStfuc tion of S11chand the tfanS1ission ffon1 the power Unit to tho line Sha.ft 2 have notbeen i1111Strafed in detail.

Each of the vehicleS includes fTame 22. (FIGS. 2, 3 and S.) The ffameincludeS at least tWo ciampS 2 Which clan1p the ipe 1 to the ffaIne 22.The fTan1o extendS in font of and behind he p e 10 and Spaced from theipe 1@ aTe tvvo vertical tobeS 2o Tigidly attached to the ffanle 22.Bfacket 28 iS ioUfnalled vvifhin each of tho veffical tubeS 25. ThuS thebfacket iS n1onted for otation about a veftical axis. Tho bfacketincludeS fofk 3 Which haS hoTizontal aXle 32 at itS 10ver eIld, aboutvhich groI1nd engaging vhee1 34 is nlounted. Cifculaf p1ate 3o isaftached to the to of the fork 30 coaxiaHy With cifculaf plate 38 WhiChis attached coaxiaHy to the bottofn of tube 2ol (EI(. 4.) Thus, bytightening and loosening Set Scrow 40, the bfacket 28 may be damped inany of a lufafity of adiUSfed positions.

The line Shaft 2 is ionrnaHed to the ffanle 22 by Hne beaIings 42.(FIGS. 5 and o,) dacent each line bearing 42, 1ine bevel gear 44 iSattaChed fo the line Shaft 22, The line beafings 42 afe iocafod anddepend ffoIn the frafne 22 WheTeaS the claITpS 2 afe located on top ofthe ffanTe 22 and thefefoTe the line Shaft 2@ is located iffIIIlediafelybelow the pipe 10.

Flexible, extensible, TeSilient Shaft 4o drives each of the groUndengag1g wheeIS 34 ffoIn the liIle level geaf 4. (F(S. 3 S and 6.) ThSeXtenSible, oXib1e Shaft includes bevel stub Shaft 48 Which is iournaHedto the fTan1e 22 by beaTing 5. The beVol Stl1b Shaft 48 iS at Tightangles fo the line Shaft 20 and carTieS thereon bovol geaf 52 vVhich isn1eShed vVith oe of the line bevel geafS 44. Tho line beve1 geaTS 44 aTeSet upon the line Shaft 2G in oppoSite diTections so that the bevelgeafS 52 afe in op p()Site sidoS of t11e line bevel geaTS 44. Thefefofe,any thruSt creafed by the opefation of the geafs is oppoSed and oancelSoI1t. The exibIe, exfenSible, TeSilient Shaft 4o extendS SubStanffaHydTectIy fTon the line Shaft 20 tovafdS the axle 32,

T he bevel Stub Shaft 48 is attached to a exible joint s. (FIG. o.) Theofhef sfde of eXible joint s4 iS connected to Tod so, The Tod so isteleSco ed Within tnbe s8 so that the Shaft 4o is eXtenSible by the Todso sliding vvithin the tube 58. The tube s8 iS connocted to exib1e ointo. The eXbe ioint 60 iS atfached fo pinion tube o2 Which is iournanodUpon L-Shaped shaft 64. The Shoft leg of the L-Shaped shaft o4 fofms theaxle 32 Which iS attached to the botton1 of the fork 30, ThuS, the aXisof tho pinion fubo 62 inteTSectS the axle 32 at Tight angleS. 1 inion 72iS attached coaxially to the pinion tube o2,

3 The teeth of pinion 72 ITlesh (in the poSition iIII1stfated) With theteeth of Ting gea 74 Which iS SeCUfed to the SpokeS of the Wheel 34.

(lutch 7G iS attached to the fod 58 and opefateS to en gage dogs 78llpon tUbe 56. Thus, When the c1Utch 76 is engaged, the Vvheel 34 iSdfiven by the f1eXible, eXtensibe, fesilient Shaft Tesponsive toTofafion of the line shaft 29.

The nexible ioint 60, Shovvn in gfeater detail i11 FI(r. 7, is identicalto exfb1e ioint 54. The eXib1e ioint in- (=111'des Stfap 8a attached atlighf aogleS to the tobe 5 ond StTap 82 attached at light angleS to thepinion tube 62. Fabfic 84 Such aS canvaS v/ith a vn1caniZed rubbef covefin is circular. Two diametTicall o osed boltS 85 bolt the fabfic to theStfap 8o. T vo additional boltS 88 bolt tho fabfic to the StTap 82. ThebotS S and 88 ao diS placed 90 upon the fabTic 84. The fabric 84 isexibfe; theTefoTe the ioint o iS eXible, Foftheln1ofe the fab Tic 84 iSTesilient so that Shoold one of the otheT of the vhee1S 34 encountef anobSfacle, thefe S a ceftai11 fe- Siliency in the dfive vvhich iSdeSifable.

vVith the tvo eXibIe iointS 4 and so and the eXtenSbIe ioint befvveenthe rod 6 and the tube 5, I have pfovided a exfb1e, extensible,TeSilient Shaft 46 to dfive the wheel 34 feSponsive to fotaton oftheline Shaft 20.

The clutch 7o iS deSifable fof alignInent. If one of the vehicleS 12 ofthe SyStem becomes Inisaligned, the opeT- atOT Inay diSengago theclUtches 7o of that vehicle and Teadily, nlanUaHy n1ove the vehicle intoaligT11Tlent and then Te^engage the clutches, The c111fch 76 (FIGs. 3and 6) haS levef 99 Which iS pivoted beoveen two ears 92 Which afewelded to the Tod 5G. HeHCal S fingS 94 extend ffoII1 the lever 99 tothe fod So, So that the lever is held by the S TingSfn a snap poSiton inone of tWo positions; eif11eT With eng2ging afn1 96 of the clutch 76 engaged with the dogS 78 of diSengaged. The engaging arm 9o iS olongatedto accoInn1odato Sliding of the fod 56 vith in the tube s8,

In noTmal opefation the wheelS 34 vvill be adiuSted by Totation of thebracketS 28 and the Setting of the Set Scfev 40 to go in the deSireddiTection genefally ffanSvefSe of the pipe 10. 1Vhen the powef Unit 18is activated, the line Shaft 2@ is Tofated (in either difection) and thepovveT iS tranSn1itted ffon1 the line Shaff thTough the c111tCh 7o andthe eXible, eXtensible, fesilient Shaft 46 to the pinion 72. The vvheelS34 afe Totated by the Ting geaT 74. The exib1e shaft will accomInodateadinstn1ent to a slight degTee to the Tight of left To Inove theSySteII1 longitudinany of endWiSe (in a diTection genera1ly alignod Withthe axiS of the pipe 10), the bfacketS 28 afe fotated So that thevVheeIS 34 aTe aligned to Inove the SySten1 1ongftlldinally. Zhen thebfacket is Totated, the fod 56 iS diSConnected ffon1 its otheTwisote1eScoped Connection vvith the tube 58. Pin oo in one of a pluraHfy ofholeS 68 in L-Shaped Shaft 64 nOTIIla1ly poSitions the iTlion tube 62 Sothat the pinion 72 is engaged With the Ting geaT 74. However, WhenInoving longitndinally, the pinion tube 62 iS nloved on L Shaped shaft64 so that the pinion 72 iS nof IneShed vVith the ring gear 74 and heldin thiS poSition by pin oo in anothe1 of the plurality of the holeS 68.Then the sySteIn iS adapted to be towed endWiSe by a towing vehicle (notShown).

It vvi11 be apparent that the en1bodiInent Shovvn iS only eXen1plaTy andthaf vaTions n1odificationS can be Inade in conStTHction, II1ateTialS,and afrangen1ent vithiI1 the Scope of the invention as defined in theappended clain1S.

I clain1 aS n1y iIlvention 1. In an agTicultufal SPfinklef iTfigationpipe Inoving SySten1 having (a) a pipe adapted to caTTy vvater UndefProsSuTe,

(b) a plufality of Spfin1IeTS f1L1fdly connected to the pipe foT STinkling vvateT upon the land to be ifi gated,

(c) a pIUTality of vehicleS movingly Suppofong the d) a powet unit onone vehicle dTiving (e) a line Shaft extending along tho pipe, and

(f) ioofnalled to each vehicle;

the iIT11)Tovonlent i11 con1binatioT1 vvith the `above con1f pfiSing:

(g) each vehicle having a franle,

(h) each vehicle having two wheelS,

(i) each vVl1eel n1Ounted in a bfacket io111Ia1led fof fotation about aveTtical axiS fo the ffan1e (k) a eXible, eXtenSiblo Shaft fof eachvvheeL (n1) extendingffon1 Said line Shaft to Said WheeL (11) Saidf1exible, eXtenSible Shaft dfiven ffoII1 Said line Shaft,

(o) Said exib1e, extensible Shaft iOUfnaned to the ffaole adiacentsaidlioe Shaft,

(p) Said exib1e, extenSible Shaft io11TnaHed fo the bTacket adjacentSaid VvheeL and (q) Said exib1e, extenSible Shaft dTivingly connecfed tothe wheel, whefeby the ower unit d ives each Wheel of the SySte1 in aguided position by tlle ex ing extending ShaftS.

2- The invention aS dened in olai111 1 WheTefn Said eXib1e extenSibleShaft iS alSo Tesi1ient 3. The invention as dened i11 claiIn 1 vvherein(T) Safd driving connection ffon1 the line shaft fo Said exibe,eXfensiblo shaft iS by bevel gea1s.

4. The invention aS defined iI1 claiIT1 1 vvhefein (1) Said exib1e,eXtenSibIe Shaft haS a c111tch thefein fof inteffupting tho ov of povefto each vvheeL 5. The invention aS dened in clain1 1 vvheTein (1) thedriving connection ffon1 Said fiexible, eXtenSible shaft to Said vvheelinClodeS a pinion geaf on the f1ex ible, extenSible Shaft and a Tinggearon thevhoeL 6. The invention as dened in claiIn 1 vvheTein (T) thebTacket haS n1eanS thefeon fof locking the bTacket in one of 1TlanySolected guided poSitions O the fTanle. v

7. The invention as defined in clai11 1 vvhefein (r) Said fleXible,eXtenSible Shaft iS alSo Tesilient,

(S) Said dfiving connection ffon1 tho line Shaft fo said eXible,extonSible Shaff iS by bevel geaTS, (t) Said exible, extenSible shafthaS a clI1fch thofein foT iI1terTUpting the ovV of poweT fo each wheeL(11) tho dfiving connection ffom Said eXibIe, eXten Sible shaft to SaidvVheel incllldos a )inon geaf oI1 the exible, eXtenSible Shaft and afing gea1 on the WheeL and (v) the bfacket has n1eanS thefeon foflocking the bracket in one of IIlany Selected guided positions to theffaIne.

8. In aI1agficultuTal spTinklef iffigation pipe II1oviI1g SySteInhaving,

(a) a pipe adapted to caffy vvateT undof pfesSofe,

(b) a plurality of spfinkleTS iiuidly connectod to the pipe fofSpfinkling vvatef upon the land to be ifTi gated,

(c) a plnrality of vehioles II1ovingly SupPofting the (d) a power Uniton o11e vehicle driving (e) a line Shaft extending along the pipe, and

(f) ionfnaned to each vehicle;

the iIIlproven1ent in con1bination vvith the above coo1- pTiSing= (g)each vohicle having a ffan1e,

(h) two bracketS, each pivoted to the ffan1e aboUt (In) a pinion whoSeteeth are meshed vith the teefh of the geaT Ting,

(I1) Said pinion on a pinion Shaft vVhoSe aXis isat Tight angleS to theaXis of the wheeL and (o) n1eanS inferconnecting Said )inion Shaft and1ine

